Experimental design for backlash detection in a two-mass rotational system

This paper intends to lay the groundwork for detection of backlash nonlinearity in a two-mass rotational system representing a vehicle driveline. It involves experiments and practical considerations prior to carrying out a system identification of the plant. Four possible system configurations are elaborated. Parameter estimation is then carried out in Dymola. Practical factors that affect the quality of parameter estimation such as the type of input signal is discussed. It is established that it is more suitable to use Pseudorandom Multilevel Sequence (PRMLS) excitation for the detection of backlash because the multilevel magnitudes of the signal can invoke the nonlinearity of the system when the it is amplitude dependent. The preliminary identification results will be used in later work for active vibration control.